5 Favorite Kindergarten Books from My Childhood

Reading to children is often touted as the best way to put them on a good path to learning. My parents read to me early and often. Here are some favorite kindergarten books that I read to my own children.

Corduroy
by Don Freeman

A cuddly bear, who wears overalls that are missing a button, is in a department store overnight. A classic toy-comes-to life story, Corduroy hops off a shelf to go looking for his missing button. He gets on an elevator and thinks he has climbed a mountain. He believes he is in a palace when he gets to the furniture section. The next day, a little girl, Lisa, buys Corduroy, Once in her room, Corduroy decides that Lisa must be a friend, and that this is home.

The Little Engine That Could
by Watty Piper

“I think I can! I think I can!” This is the tale of the Little Blue Engine who isn’t afraid to try to get over the mountain. A larger locomotive is filled with toys for the boys and girls, but breaks down. The little Blue Engine saves the day. Even though she is small, manages to get over the mountain by never giving up.

Little Bear
by Else Holmelund Minarik

The is a lovely series of stories, primarily involving the interaction of Little Bear, a small cub and Mother Bear, his mother. The book is illustrated by famous children’s author and illustrator Maurice Sendak, (Where the Wild Things Are). The stories are all about Little Bear experiencing the world (I see snow, it is cold) and his wonderfully warm and gentle mother who guides him.

The Giving Tree
by Shel Silverstein

“Once there was a tree… and she loved a little boy.” Every day the boy would come to the tree and eat her apples and play and the tree was happy. But as the boy grew older he began to want more, until the tree has nothing more to give. This is a poignant story of the love of one for another accepted unconditionally.

A character known as “Sam-I-Am” pesters the narrator to try a dish of green eggs and ham. The unnamed character refuses, responding, “I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-Am.” Sam pesters and pesters in about eight different locations and with different animals until finally the narrator gives up and tries the dish. And miraculously he finds he likes them!

“I do so like green eggs and ham. Thank you. Thank you, Sam-I-Am.” A classic even if you don’t like eggs.